Device for connecting the cranks of two independently-acting engines



(No Model.) 2 Sheet,s -Sheet 1.

v I v E. D. LEAVITT, Jr. DEVIGE EOE CONNECTING THE GRANKS OE-TWO INDEPENDENTLY ACTING ENGINES.

Patented Apr. 30 1889.

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Ry MWM 14mm MW 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Apr. 30, 1889,

Inventor:

ErasnuwD.Leiwfll,Jn,

(No Model.) y

E.-D. LEAVITT, Jr. DEVICE FOR CONNECTING-THE CRANKS OF TWO INDEPENDENTLY ACTING ENGINES.

G T WWW am (I T w l 5 m m m UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERASMUS D. LEAVITT, .TR-., OF CAMBRIDGEPOR'I, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVlCE FOR CONNECTING THE CRANKS OF TWO lNDEPENDENTLY-ACTING ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,255, dated April 30, 1889.

Application filed October 12,1888-' Serial No. 287,951, (No model.)

To all whom it nuty concern:

Be'it known that I, ERASMUS D. LEAVITT, J r., of Cambridgeport, in the. county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Device for Connecting the Oranksof Two Independently-Acting Engines, of which thefollowing, taken in connection with. the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to steam-engines; and it consists in a novel device for connecting the cranks upon the main shafts of two independently-acting engines for the purpose of allowing one engine to rotate both shafts at times whenthe other engine has been disabled and not in running condition, all as will be readily understood by reference to the:de-

scription of the drawings, and to the claims to be hereinafter given.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of so much of twosteam-engines as it is necessary to show in order to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 representsa plan of the cranks, portions of the connecting- -rods, and the drag-link for connecting the two cranks together. Fig. 3 represents a sectional on line as x on Fig. 2.

elevation of the same, the cutting-plane being Fig. 4L represents a sectional elevation of the crank-pin of one of the engines. Fig. 5 represents an end view of the same. Fig. 6 represents a sectional elevation of the crank-pin of the other engine, and Fig.

- the columns A A, in which it is adapted to slide.

The cross-head Cv is connected by the link D to one arm of the three-armed beam E, adapted to rock about its axis upon the beampin F when steam has been supplied to the cylinder to impart a reciprocating motion to the piston B. A pin, G, is driven through another arm of said beam E, so that its ends project beyond the sides thereof, and to one end of this pin is secured alink, G, the op posite end of which is secured to the crosshead l-I, mounted in suitable guideways in the columns H H, in which it is adapted to slide.

The cross-head ll is connected by the pistonrod H to a suitable piston, (not shown,) which reciprocates in a well-known manner in the intermediate cylinder, 1. To the opposite end of the pih G is secured another link, J, which connects in a similar manner with the piston in the high-pressure cylinder, which is not shown in the drawings, as it has no bearing upon my present invention.

The third arm of. the beam E is provided witha pin, K, which is encircled by one end of the rod L, which connects said arm with the crank-pin M, rigidly secured to the crank M, which in turn is firmly secured to the main shaft M mounted in the pedestal N, secured to the bed-plate O.

Upon the same bed-plate, O, is secured another engine exactly the duplicate of that described, so located that the shafts of both engines will be in the same axial line withtheir connecting-rods extending in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. 1, in which only the shaft P, the crank P, the crank-pin R, and a portion of the connecting-rod R of the second engine are shown.

\Vhen both engines are in Working order, they run independent of each other without any connection between the two; but as soon as one of these engines has been disabled in any way, so that it is desired to rotate both of the main shafts M and P by means of the other engine, the connecting-rod is disconnected from the pins of the disabled engine and the crank-pins M and R of thetwo engines are connected together by thedrag-link S, when power will at once be transmitted 0 from the Working engine to the main shafts M and P of both engines. One-of the crankpins, M, is hollow and provided with a supplemental pin, T, which is made tapered to fit the bore in the crank-pin M, and is held in position by the nut a, which has formed in its outer face a series of holes, a, and is locked in position and prevented from turning by the keeper Z), provided with pins 1), which on ter the holes a in said nut a, said keeper being adj ustably secured to the hollow crankpin M by screws b passing freely through slots b in said keeper and tapped into the crank-pin M, all as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The larger end of the supplemental pin '1 extends beyond the end of the crank-pin M, and upon this portion of the pin T is mounted one end of the drag-link S, which is kept in position thereon by the flanged head 0.

The cran k-pin R is provided with a similar extension, (I, made in one piece with the main portion of the crank-pin R, and adapted to receive the opposite end of the drag-link S,

, which is held thereon by means of the cap 6,

secured to the outer end of said extension d by the bolt f. The drag-link S is provided with adjustable bearings for taking up the wear, as will be readily seen by referring to Fig. '7.

\Vhen the disabled engine has been repaired and it is again desired to run both engines, the cap e is removed from the crank-pin R and the supplemental crank-pin T is removed from the crank-pin M, when the drag-link S may be readily removed and the engines may be run independently of each other at varying rates of speed without conflict, there being just suflicient clearance between the end of the extension d of the crank-pin R and the end of the crank-pin M to allow them to easily pass each other.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be so apparent from the foregoing as to need no further mention.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. Means for connecting and disconnecting two independently-operated engines having their shafts in axial line with each other, so that both shafts may be revolved by either engine, comprising a drag-link and two crankpins, one of which pins is made in two parts, one tubular and fixed in the crank and provided with a journal to receive the connecting-rod of the engine and the other removably set in said tubular portion in axial line therewith and provided with a journal to receive one end of the drag-link.

2. Means for connecting and disconnecting two independently-operated engines having their shafts in axial line with each other, so that both shafts may be revolved by either engine, comprising a drag-link and two crank-' pins, one of which pins is made in two parts, one tubular and fixed in the crank of one of the shafts, and is provided with a journal to receive the connecting-rod of the engine, and the other is removably set in said tubular portion in axial line therewith, and is provided with a journal to receive one end of the drag-1i nk, another crank-pin fixed in the crank of the other shaft and provided with two journals, one to receive the connecting-rod of the engine and the other to receive one end of the drag-link, and a cap secured to the end of the last-mentioned crank-pin to retain said link in position when in use, and which is adapted to be removed when said engines are running independently of each other.

I11 testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, on this 8th day of October, A. D. 1888.

ERASMUS D. LEAVI'IT, JR.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS W. DEAN, GEORGE E. WHITNEY. 

